Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) is dealing with a persistent issue in strata properties: misuse of power and criminal breach of trust (CBT) by entities entrusted with property management.
MPAJ Commissioner of Buildings (COB) head Zulkefli Mohd Noor said these complaints were among the most frequent received.
However, instead of immediately resorting to legal action, the COB adopts a conciliatory approach.
“We try to solve the matter through negotiations with the affected parties, including complainants and management,” said Zulkefli.
He added that to date, MPAJ had not taken any strata-related parties to court.
Zulkefli was speaking at Ampang Jaya Strata Convention 2025, an annual event organised by the local council to serve as a platform for sharing knowledge and best practices in strata community management.
MPAJ deputy president Hasrolnizam Shaari, who launched the event, said more than 60% of Ampang Jaya’s residents lived in 642 strata schemes.
These include low-cost flats, condominiums and mixed developments, covering 110,165 plots.
He acknowledged “various daily challenges” that came with managing these schemes.
“These include arrears in maintenance charges that can affect operations, facility maintenance issues such as elevators, water pumps, roofs, parking space and garbage disposal systems, administrative conflicts among joint management body (JMB) or management committee (MC) members as well as lack of awareness among residents about their rights and responsibilities,” he said.
Hasrolnizam said that if not addressed properly, all these issues could affect the quality of life of urban communities and even reduce a property’s value.
The event at MPAJ Convention Centre was attended by over 200 representatives from JMBs, MCs, management agents and developers, and focused on keeping participants updated on matters related to strata management and Strata Management Act 2013 (Act 757).
There were also exhibitors providing services and products to facilitate strata management, such as a visitor management system and real estate valuation services.
Hasrolnizam said the annual convention was part of MPAJ’s ongoing effort to provide JMBs and MCs with crucial exposure to relevant laws.
Present at the event were Hulu Kelang state constituency coordinator Juwairiya Zulkifli and Selangor Housing and Property Board (LPHS) operations development division head Azatus Syukria Shakir Mashkor.
